18 Apr 1942

The Plan: Take 16 B-25s, launch 400 miles out, strike targets under the cover of darkness and recover in China after sunrise.

What Happened; Launch 700 miles out, strike targets during the early afternoon, and bailout over China in darkness.

Doolittle Raid

Crew 1

Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle and Crew. Dick Cole, a member of the Greatest Generation, is thankfully still with us today and remains active on his farm in Comfort, Texas.

Crew 8

Crew 8 landed near Vladivostok with engine trouble and were interned in Russia until they escaped through Iran in May 1943.

Crew 12

Sgt Duquette was killed 6 weeks after the raid when his plane hit a mountain while returning from a bombing mission.

Crew 11

Capt Ross Green was shot down over North Africa on 17 Jul 1943. He was Captured – Escaped – Recaptured and spent the rest of the war as a POW.

Crew 16

Crew was captured by the Japanese after bailing out. Lt Farrow and Sgt Spatz were executed on 15 Oct 1942 along with Lt Hallmark from Crew 6.

• 80 Men flew from the Hornet on 18 Apr 1942• 3 were killed bailing out• 8 were captured by the Japanese

• 3 POWs were executed• 1 died of malnutrition and mistreatment• 4 were repatriated 40 months into captivity

• 10 were KIA in Europe, North Africa & Indo-China• 4 were shot down and interred as German POWs

• As of 21 Dec 05• 16 Raiders are still with us.